Optimistic mood prevails among business service providers

Business service providers remain optimistic about the future. The number of entrepreneurs expecting to receive more orders and to generate a higher turnover in the fourth quarter of 2007 well exceeds those anticipating a decline. The balance marginally exceeded the result of the previous quarter. 

Business service providers are also optimistic about future employment; on balance 22 percent expect to hire more staff in the fourth quarter of 2007. Among computer service providers in particular, new staff is in high demand. A shortage of manpower is considered an impediment to production growth by 7 out of 10 entrepreneurs in this sector. 

Dutch business service providers are pleased with the number of orders received in the third quarter of 2007. On balance, 26 percent evaluate the number of orders received as ‘good’, given the time of the year, which is slightly lower than in the previous quarter. Providers of business services are still very positive about the economic climate in general in the Netherlands. Their opinions on this indicator were a little less exuberant than in the previous survey conducted at the beginning of the third quarter.

The economic survey conducted among providers of business services evaluates the mood in three branches: lease companies, computer service providers and other business services (including temp agencies, advertising agencies, cleaning services, engineering firms, accounting and administrative offices).

Opinion on orders received in business services